Best bluetooth earbuds to buy in 2018 - In-ear gadgets from Jabra, Beats and Apple work for the office and the gym
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Loading... - Bruna Rayes
- 04 Apr 2021
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Apple may have gained the most recognition for truly wireless earbuds with its AirPods - but there are plenty of other options out there.
As more and more phones have begun ditching the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack, sales of wireless headphones have soared.
And while regular headphones are available in wireless forms, some manufacturers have created AirPod-like wireless earbuds.
These lodge inside your ear and pass the signal between them. Usually, one earpiece is the dominant one and can also function as a hands-free microphone for taking calls.
As well as audio quality, it's important to get a good fit - as there's no wire protecting these little gadgets if they fall out of your ears.
Because they work through bluetooth - a universal standard - these earbuds will link to any phone or tablet, regardless of whether it's made by Apple, Samsung or Sony.
Many also come with a dedicated carry case that doubles up as a charger.
As well as truly wireless earbuds, you can also get standard in-ear wireless headphones that connect to your phone wirelessly but connect to each other using a wire.
Here are the top ten best bluetooth earbuds to buy in 2018
1. Apple AirPods - £159
The AirPods are an instantly recognisable pair of bluetooth earbuds and a pair you should seriously consider if you're an iPhone user.
They instantly connect to another iOS device thanks to the built-in W1 chip and have a battery life of five hours on each charge. AirPods come in a charging case that will juice them up again. Double tapping them can also activate Siri and there's a built-in microphone so you can take voice calls.
What's more, the music will automatically pause when you take them out of your ears. To get the best out of these, you'll need a device running iOS 10 or later.
2. Jaybird RUN - £170
Jaybird's sporty RUN earbuds are completely wireless Bluetooth headphones that have been developed for outdoor enthusiasts.
The buds are sweat and water resistant and also come with a selection of different tips and wings. They can initially be a bit fiddly to get the right fit, once you're sorted you don't have to worry.
Even whipping your head around to check the traffic won't dislodge them from your lugholes.
3. Sony WF-1000X - £200
These sleek-looking wireless earbuds pack in noise cancelling technology and will last for about three hours on a single charge.
The buttons on the side will control playback and, like the Jaybird RUN, these earbuds come in a handy travel case that doubles up as a charger.
Sony's usual commitment to quality means that these sound great and look stylish with a black finish that works both in the boardroom and out on the trails.
4. Monster iSport Victory - £100
Monster has given the iSport Victory a new, reflective cable that gives it more visibility in low-light. The in-line remote is also chunky, with raised buttons that mean you can operate it just by touch, which is useful when you're concentrating on your sport.
Lastly, the design feels tough and durable. The iSport Victory headphones are sweat resistant, so you don't need to worry about wearing them out in the rain.
5. Beats X - £130
The Beats X are small, snug little things that come in a few different colours - white, black, grey and blue. There’s a looping wire that goes around the back of your neck and a small in-line remote for changing the volume, skipping tracks and firing up Siri.
The cable is flat and flexible, contouring nicely to your neck and it’s light enough that you can pretty much wear it all day and forget it’s there.
They're unsurprisingly targeted at iPhone users because of the W1 chip loaded inside. So they will pair automatically with your iPhone or iPad.
6. Motorola VerveOnes Music Edition - £130
Motorola switched up the colour for its second attempt at a pair of truly wireless earbuds. They come in a cylindrical swivel-open case that looks more like it should be used for some sort of medication.
The right earbud is the through-channel for the audio signal from your phone, so it can be used independently if needed. They're rated as IP54 water/dust resistant so will survive the rain - if not a full dunk in the toilet.
A single charge will give you two hours of play time - with a further six that can be pulled out from the case.
7. Jaybird X3 - £109
A stylish mix of black and silver (although there are other colours available) with a curvy in-line remote, the design of the Jaybird X3s is right up there with the best of them. Included in the package are a mixture of tips and wings so you can get the fit right.
The buttons on the in-line remote are chunky enough that you can find them with gloves on and without looking and there’s a couple of clips that, once attached, allow you to alter the length of the cord.
The eight-hour battery life offered by the Jaybird X3 is great, allowing you to get through an entire day without having to charge. Which is a good thing, because the headphones use a proprietary charging dongle that has to be attached to a microUSB port.
8. Jabra Elite 65t - £149
These tiny ear plugs are particularly good at picking up your voice when you're on the phone.
There's a four-microphone array tucked into the tiny buds as well as built-in support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri.
Audio sounds good and the fit is nice and snug, so you don't need to worry about them falling out of your ears if you're rushing to get somewhere.
Once you've run down the 5-hour battery, the pocket-friendly carry case doubles up as a charger that'll give you another 10 hours.
9. B&O BeoPlay E8 - £269
You can tell these headphones care about style because the charging case has been given a neat leather finish.
There are also touchpads on the back of each one that can be used to control music. Multi-level passthrough means you can also hear the outside world - if you choose - to avoid missing things like boarding announcements.
The E8s will last for four hours between each charge with the leather case giving an additional eight.
10. Jam Ultra True Wireless Earbuds - £80
If you want to grab a pair of wireless earbuds on a budget then these are probably the pair for you.
The charging case has a nylon weave exterior which makes it tough and it's small enough to slip happily into a pocket. Battery life stands at three hours for each charge.
The sweat-resistant buds mean you can wear them out for a jog. Some have criticised these headphones has being a bit bass-heavy but otherwise the sound is rounded and fair with a good, solid bluetooth connection.
